Burn the Ships

A couple months ago I heard a song for the first time called “Burn the Ships”, by for KING & COUNTRY (video below). I got really excited to show my son the song because he had just told me the story about the Spanish explorer and conquistador, Hernán Cortés, who burned his ships to give his men motivation to fight. I never remembered learning about this story before.

He had actually learned it from his baseball coach this year. In fact, it’s one of the team’s mantras this year. You see, last year the team made the state playoffs but just missed making it to the championship game. This year their coach didn’t want that to hold them back. He said they need motivation just like Cortés’ men did in order to conquer the new land. They have to fight in order to survive.

For the baseball team, the metaphorical ships are their past (the past losses, being an ordinary team, almost winning, etc.). They needed to burn them down, get out of their shell, and fight as a team this year. To symbolize this, the team huddles up and shouts “1-2-3-BTS!” (BTS=Burn the ships) The back of their hoodies this year also say “Burn the Ships”.

Hernán Cortés-Burn the Ships

Cortés was said to have burned his own ships upon arrival in Veracruz, Mexico in 1519 to prevent the retreat of his men. This would send a clear message—that there was no turning back! After doing a little bit of research I discovered that Cortés, in fact, may not have actually burned the ships. There is some dispute about whether or not he burned the ships or instead sank, scuttled, or ran them aground. Additionally it is debated whether or not he actually spared one ship to send to King Charles V in Spain with a portion of the treasure from his conquest.

Regardless of the “how”, it is evident from history that the ships were indeed destroyed. Thus, the result and reasoning remain the same…to prevent retreat and ensure his men were committed to their mission. Cortés knew one thing: retreat is easy when you have the option. Therefore, to burn the ships is to cut all sources of retreat. Consequently he removed any obstacles that could potentially hold his men back from giving their full effort. The message? “Succeed or die. We are not leaving this place alive unless we win.”

A reminder to me

This reminded me of a particular time that I too had to burn the ships at one time. 10 years ago our marriage was in a deep and dark place, to the point of separation and divorce papers. It was very broken—beyond any repair that we could humanly do. Only by God’s grace, forgiveness, and power was our marriage restored.

We symbolically burned the ships when we literally burned our divorce papers. (I had a picture I was going to post of us burning them with fireworks on the 4^th of July, but I can’t seem to find it.) My “ship” was divorce, and by burning that it took that option off of the table forever. Then on our 15 year anniversary, five years later, we re-committed with another symbolic (yet quite permanent!) declaration by getting tattoos on our wedding ring fingers as a reaffirmation of our vows.

Last month (December 2019) we celebrated our 20^th wedding anniversary. The traditional “gift” for 20 years is china, so I made Eric a mosaic out of a broken piece of china of my grandmother’s. This mosaic represented how God made something new and beautiful out of something very broken. This was only possible because we committed to burn the ships and decided to look ahead to the possibility and promise of something new.

Still need reminders on occasion

In verse 2 of the “Burn the Ships” song, there’s a line that says “Don’t let it arrest you, this fear, this fear of fallin’ again”^[1]. That line resonated with me because unfortunately there are still times that I have triggers of pain or have paralyzing fears about the past resurfacing again. Therefore, even now, I need reminders not to think about the past, and like the lyrics of the song say I need to step into a new day and don’t look back^[2].

When the hurt of the past and some of those scars try to resurface, I have to remind myself to look ahead and press on. It’s been a long and ongoing road of healing and restoration…one where I’ve had to occasionally battle not looking back. However, God always reminds me of a promise which has become somewhat of a life verse for me in many ways:

“The Lord says, “Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it? I will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land.” Isaiah 43:18-19 (NCV)

About this same time of hearing the song, I was also getting reminders from God about not looking back. In a journal entry dated November 23, 2019, I had written:

Repeated theme: Don’t look at the past. Don’t look back. Look ahead. God is preparing me for something new. He’s making a new path. He’s doing something new in me. Move forward. New perspectives…new streams…new roads. It’s now springing forth. God is making a way. He is the way maker.

Related scriptures also resurfacing:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CEV)

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)

“God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away. And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine).” Revelation 21:4-5 (AMPC)

“Burn the Ships” by for KING & COUNTRY

Take Some Practical Steps to Burn the Ships:

• First, identify if you need to burn any ships.

Consider the following questions: What are your ships? What are you afraid to let go of? What keeps you looking back? Do you need to step into a new day? Are you leaving an option for retreat open in any area of your life? Are you fully, 100% committed to whatever God is calling, asking, or telling what’s possible for you to do? What’s preventing you from moving forward in any area of your life?

• Secondly, realize what’s at stake. Ask yourself…

What if I acted as if this were my last and only hope? What if I worked toward that end, putting in my all—all my heart, soul, and mind—as if I needed to win or succeed in order to survive?

• Then, burn the ships and force yourself to move forward!

Take an action—whether it’s symbolic or literally burning something (i.e. write it down on a piece of paper, then burn it). Tell yourself, “Don’t dwell on the past. It’s a new day; God is doing a new thing! He’s making a road in the desert and making rivers in dry land. He’s making all things new.” Sing the chorus of “Burn the Ships”:

Chorus Lyrics:

Step into a new day
We can rise up from the dust and walk away
We can dance upon the heartache, yeah
So light a match, leave the past, burn the ships
And don’t you look back^[3]

• Next, don’t look back.

Remember, your option of retreat is now burned. If you look back you might see the enemy bearing down on you like the Egyptians coming after the Israelites at the Red Sea. On the other hand, if you look ahead you can realize that you’re not alone and that God is going before you.

“As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.” Exodus 14:10 (NIV)

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)

• Finally, realize that you’re not moving forward alone.

In the song, when I hear another line in verse 2 I feel like it’s God speaking directly to me: “And if you need a refuge, I will be right here until the end.”^[4] God will never leave you either.

“…For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” Hebrews 13:5 (AMP)

What ships do you need to burn? How are you going to do it? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are rude, disrespectful, sarcastic, offensive, or off-topic.  By posting on this site you agree to my Comment Policy.

P.S.  If you liked this post, you might enjoy receiving new posts delivered right to your inbox each week!  Sign up here. 

If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

1. For KING & COUNTRY. Lyrics to “Burn the Ships.” Burn the Ships. Word Entertainment, 2018. ↑
2. For KING & COUNTRY. Lyrics to “Burn the Ships.” Burn the Ships. Word Entertainment, 2018. ↑
3. For KING & COUNTRY. Lyrics to “Burn the Ships.” Burn the Ships. Word Entertainment, 2018. ↑
4. For KING & COUNTRY. Lyrics to “Burn the Ships.” Burn the Ships. Word Entertainment, 2018. ↑